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NBA veteran Nicolas Batum announces retirement
After 18 seasons, Batum announces his retirement from the NBA.
Associated Press | Updated on September 22, 2026, 12:46 AM
18-year NBA veteran Nicolas Batum announces his retirement.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Versatile forward Nicolas Batum is retiring following an 18-year NBA career and a long stint with the French national team.
The 37-year-old Batum announced his retirement in a social media video with his son on Monday.
"I decided to retire from basketball for several reasons," Batum told his 10-year-old son, Ayden, in the video. "I want to come home and be with you. I'm going to take care of you and make room for others. I think I've done my time. My time with France ended two years ago. And the NBA is over too. You know, when you've played as much basketball as I have, at some point, you have to know when to stop. … I've done everything I needed to do."
21/09/1991 21/09/2026
pic.twitter.com/0IXH9Rs6wV
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) September 21, 2026
Batum played two seasons in the French league before being selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The 6-foot-7 forward spent seven seasons in Portland before playing the next six with Charlotte. Batum spent most of his final six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, with a short stint in Philadelphia in 2023-24. He also was a stalwart on French national teams that won silver medals in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
Batum averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 37% from 3-point range during his NBA career.
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